Anyone have SW make you give up EBCI seat?

[gmeh1]

I never mentioned drinking or being drunk, did I? That would be the last thing I would do!

Being claustrophobic and having panic attacks does not mean I am not "fit to fly". I guess a child who is having a temper tantrum and needs to sit next to mommy could be considered to be not "fit to fly" just as well.

I would think the second comment would apply.

 

[LisaS]

I can't agree with you on that one. If I have chosen my seat, on JB for instance, and I board with my group and I find that someone else has taken my seat, you better believe that FA is going to have to do something about it. Even if I am the last person to board that plane, I have chosen that seat. If the person sitting in my prechosen seat can show proof of being able to sit there, fine....the airline booking system messed up. But in all likelihood, that person just wasn't able to get a seat next to a companion or they just liked my seat better than theirs, so plopped down in my seat. And I'm not going to be so happy about that one!!

If you are boarding with your group there is time for these issues to be resolved. The specific situations I experienced occurred when boarding at the last minute.

We were the last two people to board. They closed the door to the plane right behind me. The FA needed to get us seated ASAP so the plane could pull away from the gate. I protested to the FA that someone had taken my seat but since it was quicker for me to take an open seat than for the passenger who had taken my seat to gather up all his stuff and move out of my window seat, I lost out. I wasn't happy that someone had parked himself in my seat and I was even less happy with the way the FA yelled at me to "just find somewhere to sit so we can take off!" as if I had caused the problem, which I did not. I really don't think any further protests on my part would have convinced the FA to do anything differently.

 

[stitchlovestink]

If you are boarding with your group there is time for these issues to be resolved. The specific situations I experienced occurred when boarding at the last minute.

We were the last two people to board. They closed the door to the plane right behind me. The FA needed to get us seated ASAP so the plane could pull away from the gate. I protested to the FA that someone had taken my seat but since it was quicker for me to take an open seat than for the passenger who had taken my seat to gather up all his stuff and move out of my window seat, I lost out. I wasn't happy that someone had parked himself in my seat and I was even less happy with the way the FA yelled at me to "just find somewhere to sit so we can take off!" as if I had caused the problem, which I did not. I really don't think any further protests on my part would have convinced the FA to do anything differently.

That's exactly what I was trying to say! There just is NOT a guarantee and your situation is a example of what 'can' and 'does' happen. Does this happen often? No, but again, it can occur just like All those situations on SW!
So it really comes back to that you really are not going to be GUARANTEED assigned seats on any airline....

If you board like this above poor individual did and the pilot/crew is in a hurry to push back, they may not care about seat assignments and tell you to put your butt in the empty seat regardless of what your ticket says...
Or you could have a pilot/crew who feels a parent and child NEED to be seated together for whatever reason (age, medical need, etc) and hold up push back until reseating occurs. You never know what type of pilot/crew your going to get. I have been on flights where they held up push back until reseating occurred. It usually occurred quickly! But all I'm trying to say is everything that goes on is at the discretion of the pilot and his crew whether 'we like it or not'. Personally, I'm not going to challenge them because they do have the right to have you (general you) removed from the plane if you are uncooperative or beliggerant. You (general you) could be considered a safety risk and/or a threat to the safety of the other passengers. I'll sit where the pilot tells me if he makes a request!

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

Completely agree. I can't understand why an adult who can fully take care of themselves would consider a seat location on a plane more important than the safety and security of a child.

I agree as well. My family actually had a bad experience with sw on our first trip to Disney World. We didn't know about the seating (wish the travel agent we booked with had thought to warn us). We ended up getting the last group of seating. When we boarded there were no seats together, and the flight attendant tried to strong-arm us into seating our 6 year old by himself with strangers halfway back in the plane for his first plane ride. Of course that was not happening. The flight attendants refused to help us, finally a father who was seated with his kids offered to let our son sit with them and someone else gave up their aisle seat so that I could sit a few rows back from my son and keep an eye on him. I'm grateful to the people who moved seats so that I could be closer to my son, because if they hadn't we would have ended up giving up on that flight and I can only imagine what a nightmare that would be. It was such a bad experience we vowed never to fly SW again. We take responsibility for being uninformed about it, but I wished SW had a better action plan for keeping families together.

 

[Gracie09]

If you are boarding with your group there is time for these issues to be resolved. The specific situations I experienced occurred when boarding at the last minute.

We were the last two people to board. They closed the door to the plane right behind me. The FA needed to get us seated ASAP so the plane could pull away from the gate. I protested to the FA that someone had taken my seat but since it was quicker for me to take an open seat than for the passenger who had taken my seat to gather up all his stuff and move out of my window seat, I lost out. I wasn't happy that someone had parked himself in my seat and I was even less happy with the way the FA yelled at me to "just find somewhere to sit so we can take off!" as if I had caused the problem, which I did not. I really don't think any further protests on my part would have convinced the FA to do anything differently.

If they closed the door right behind you that mean you missed your boarding group, the general boarding (everyone is free to board at this time), usually one more reminder and then the this is the last an inal boarding call for this flight doors are closing. They likely also announce your names. So yeah in that case they don't are where you sit because you have held up the plane. I board toward the end of boarding and still have settled in my seat, stored our gear, got the kids a lollipop for take off, and there was still a few minutes before the doors were closed.
If you search the boards southwest has by far the most issues with seating (especially if you include AirTran). There are very few issues with carriers where you are assigned seats. Of course you check periodically to make sure your seats are still as you selected them but if there are any issues you can resolve them before being aboard the plane, most of the time before you even leave for the airport.
Some people love sw great for them have fun. But they are not for everyone and their method of boarding causes many stress.

 

[purplekicks]

I was travelling alone with my 14 month old twins. Someone asked me what my number was and I told her A19. (I bought EBCI) I heard her tell her companion they were most likely going to have to sit by us since they were one of the last ones to board. She said " I'm glad I have my headphones."

I knew it was naptime (since I plan my flights accordingly) but I didn't say anything.

Before we got to 10,000 feet my babies were sleeping and they were getting their seat kicked by two 5-6 year olds while their parents had their headphones on.

 

[Lewisc]

If you search the boards southwest has by far the most issues with seating (especially if you include AirTran). There are very few issues with carriers where you are assigned seats.

I don't think that's true. There are a lot of posts asking about Southwest's seating. Problems? No. I can't recall a single poster, who paid for EBCI, not being able to get seats together. Most people paying for EBCI still seem to be getting "A" BPs. I don't even recall very (any?) many posters who got their BPs at T-24 and weren't able to get seats together, at the back of the plane. Even a passenger with a low C BP has a good shot of getting at least 2 seats together.

Real issues seem to be posters flying with an airline which charges for assigned seats but who don't want to pay for assigned seats. Many passengers find they are assigned, or can get, satsifactory seats for free. Other passengers find the only seats available are "leftover" middle seats scattered throughout the plane.

I recall lots of posts from passengers who got assigned seats but found the airline "released" those seats. Maybe a schedule change. Maybe an equipment change. Sometimes even a time change of a few minutes. You have an assigned seat. Maybe you even paid extra. Why should a passenger have to keep checking to make sure they still have what they were "promised"

SW passengers may have the most questions, but not the most issues.

 

[Gracie09]

You might want to check out the AirTran via sw thread. Several stories about people being separated. Or a couple pages back the if you are debating buying ebci thread. Two people with b cards could not find seats together neither could some families. However I haven't send a JetBlue (or united or delta etc) separated us as we boarded the plane. Issues with seating arise before the airport in most of the cases that seats get shuffled. Even if you wait until 24 before to checkin you can usually resolve any issues prior to getting to the airport. Instead of standing in the middle of the aisle trying to find three seats for you and your kids and realizing there aren't any.

 

[Lewisc]

You might want to check out the AirTran via sw thread. Several stories about people being separated. Or a couple pages back the if you are debating buying ebci thread. Two people with b cards could not find seats together neither could some families. However I haven't send a JetBlue (or united or delta etc) separated us as we boarded the plane. Issues with seating arise before the airport in most of the cases that seats get shuffled. Even if you wait until 24 before to checkin you can usually resolve any issues prior to getting to the airport. Instead of standing in the middle of the aisle trying to find three seats for you and your kids and realizing there aren't any.

Passengers who book AT via Southwest can't pay for assigned seats and can't pay for EBCI. They run the risk of being split. They could have booked on the AT site. Really no different then a passenger who decides not to pay for assigned seats and takes their chances at check in. I've seen many posters complain about the airline splitting famlies when they decided against paying for assigned seats.

Passengers who booked shortly after Southwest started to book AT flights might not have had complete information available. NOW passenger take their chances.

Bs not being able to get seats together. Do the math. It's rare. There might have been seats together at the very back of the plane. Might have been seat "savers".

 

[DVC-Don]

I fly Southwest about 8 times per year and have never seen folks moved by the crew to another seat. Once and a while a request, but that's it. I usually pay for EBCI and get to airport early and always get a good seat.

 

[maxiesmom]

We take responsibility for being uninformed about it, but I wished SW had a better action plan for keeping families together.

They don't need an action plan. Not every family feels as if they have to sit next to each other on their flight. Southwest does a great job of explaining their boarding policy on their web site. If the open seating stresses someone out, then they shouldn't fly Southwest.

I'm sorry your TA didn't let you know how Southwest works. They should have informed you before buying your airline tickets.

 

[stitchlovestink]

I fly Southwest about 8 times per year and have never seen folks moved by the crew to another seat. Once and a while a request, but that's it. I usually pay for EBCI and get to airport early and always get a good seat.

I also predominantly fly SW. While I have not seen them tell someone that they will move from a particular seat what I have witnessed recently is...
1. a FA telling someone that they could not sit in a particular seat. it was being reserved for another passenger! YUP! Witnessed that this summer!
2. and have had the crew say we would not be 'pushing back' until 'this parent/child were seated together... they didn't force any particular other passenger to give up their seat, but basically, I guess it was whoever felt the pressure the quickest to move so that we could get off the ground. Have had that happen TWICE just this year!!

Personally, I think SW does a great job a providing a quality product. But I guess it is not suited for everyone. And you have to remember, not every airline flies out of every airport...

 

[winterwhite]

I also predominantly fly SW. While I have not seen them tell someone that they will move from a particular seat what I have witnessed recently is...
1. a FA telling someone that they could not sit in a particular seat. it was being reserved for another passenger! YUP! Witnessed that this summer!

Southwest, unfortunately, does not have a policy for or against saving seats.

I got into it with a flight attendant once, because this guy got on with an A boarding pass, grabbed a prime exit row seat, parked his stuff on it, and told me his wife was sitting there.

About 20 minutes later, she wanders on, C boarding pass, with dinner in hand that she had clearly been getting while he was getting on the plane.

I was livid and told the flight attendant, she shook her head and said it was okay.

I complained to southwest while still on the flight via wifi, and reminded them how much I travel with them yearly-- I got a $50 credit.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have saved a seat on SW before. I paid for EBCI but dh did not. It was really more of an experiment than anything else. I boarded early in the A group, he got mid-B. I took an exit row aisle seat. No one asked to move past me to take either of the two empty seats. Dh boarded and I moved to the middle seat while he took the aisle seat.
There really is no set policy regarding seat saving. It's more about common courtesy than anything. I doubt a FA is going to intervene unless there are very few seats left. I really have no issue with someone saving a seat in the same row.....even two seats would be okay with me. But not outside of that row.

 

[winterwhite]

I have saved a seat on SW before. I paid for EBCI but dh did not. It was really more of an experiment than anything else. I boarded early in the A group, he got mid-B. I took an exit row aisle seat. No one asked to move past me to take either of the two empty seats. Dh boarded and I moved to the middle seat while he took the aisle seat.
There really is no set policy regarding seat saving. It's more about common courtesy than anything. I doubt a FA is going to intervene unless there are very few seats left. I really have no issue with someone saving a seat in the same row.....even two seats would be okay with me. But not outside of that row.

I don't have a problem with it, if you're not in an exit or bulkhead row.

Those are generally considered, particularly by business travelers, to be the best seats on the plane. Part of what we earn by giving southwest thousands and thousands of dollars of business, is first crack at the good seats, and overhead bins.

So when a guy gets on, who was not in business select but was high on the boarding list, so probably an a-list pax, grabs the only 2 seats on the plane that have no passengers on either side, while his wife clearly wandered onto the plane 20 minutes later and was enjoying a beer instead of waiting in line, it was irritating.

It was flagrant, and his attitude about it was equally annoying.

As far as I'm concerned, you can save 3 entire rows in the back of the plane-- I don't care. But when you grab the BEST seats, and take one for someone who does not have the right to it (since they're boarding 80 people behind you) it is an obnoxious thing to do.

It would be exactly the same thing to me as having one person wait in line, then calling a family of 4 up to join you at the last second. Is it against the rules? maybe not. Is it really rude and obnoxious? Yes.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Southwest, unfortunately, does not have a policy for or against saving seats.

I got into it with a flight attendant once, because this guy got on with an A boarding pass, grabbed a prime exit row seat, parked his stuff on it, and told me his wife was sitting there.

About 20 minutes later, she wanders on, C boarding pass, with dinner in hand that she had clearly been getting while he was getting on the plane.

I was livid and told the flight attendant, she shook her head and said it was okay.

I complained to southwest while still on the flight via wifi, and reminded them how much I travel with them yearly-- I got a $50 credit.

I totally get what you are saying and agree with you but this was the FLIGHT ATTENDANT who was saving the seat!!! Not another passenger....

I have now seen that they have a 'drape' that says reserved that they can put on a seat. and I can understand that there are circumstances where the FA's very well may need to save a particular seat such as an unaccompanied minor flying. It is best to have them in a spot that is visible to the FAs because they are TRULY responsible for that child! So they can and should save a seat where they can put them where they can keep a good watch on them. If I was paying extra for that service, I would want to know that they were doing their job. And ideally in an emergency evacuation situation, while they are responsible for assisting everyone, they really have a 'double' duty to that child since there is no other adult there to assume responsibility for them. I mean that is what you are paying that extra fee for, right? It's kinda like a hefty babysitting fee! That wasn't why the FA was saving the seat on the flight I was on...but I could see that as a VERY LEGITIMATE reason for them to save a seat for an unaccompanied minor that needs to board. Ideally, they should be at the gate prior to the start of boarding but sometimes there are just circumstances beyond your control even with the best of planning!!

 

[goofy4tink]

Ok. Here's the thing. I have often taken an exit row seat, boarding in the early A group. And there was one instance where my husband had to run to the men's room, at the last minute. He actually boarded with the C group! And yes, I had saved him a seat. No one, not one single person, is entitled to a certain seat. At least not on SW! If you're flying business select, you'll board in slots A1-15. After that come all the 'regular' passengers. Even when you pay for EBCI, the only thing you are entitled to is a lower boarding slot than those that did not buy it.
I find it hard to believe that if someone boarded in the A group, there were no more pairs of seats open. I have flown SW many, many times. I have never seen that happen until the C group boarded. Not saying it doesn't happen....just that it would be very unusual.

 

[Autumnslight]

This whole thread has gotten me totally freaked out about flying Southwest for the first time in a few weeks, with two kids who've never flown before, and a husband with severe flying anxiety. I went and bought EBCI yesterday for our flights, since I hadn't realized before the full implications of Southwest's seating procedures and EBCI. I'm just not sure how much good it's going to do now, considering the flight is in three weeks, and is sold out. :/

 

[seashoreCM]

Simple reason why seat saving works:

Most people will avoid sitting next to a person they don't really want to sit next to and who does not want to sit next to them when an alternative exists and/or they have others whom they do want to sit next to.

This is the same reason why the aisle and window seats fill all the way to the back of the plane before many of the middle seats get taken.

However someone who tries will win the empty exit row seat next to you that you would rather save for a person of your choice.

... I recall lots of posts from passengers who got assigned seats but found the airline "released" those seats. Maybe a schedule change. Maybe an equipment change. Sometimes even a time change of a few minutes. You have an assigned seat. Maybe you even paid extra. Why should a passenger have to keep checking to make sure they still have what they were "promised" .

Delta was notorious for losing your seat selections if they changed your flight time even by a few minutes. One time I took advantage of another glitch they had back then. Back then every IPO had a few cheap seats. They changed a schedule and some additional cheap seats appeared and I hurriedly booked one of them then, having missed the original IPO 331 days out.

 

[gwynne]

This whole thread has gotten me totally freaked out about flying Southwest for the first time in a few weeks, with two kids who've never flown before, and a husband with severe flying anxiety. I went and bought EBCI yesterday for our flights, since I hadn't realized before the full implications of Southwest's seating procedures and EBCI. I'm just not sure how much good it's going to do now, considering the flight is in three weeks, and is sold out. :/

Most likely you'll be better off than you would have been without EBCI.